Nigel Evans must not resign over allegations of rape and sexual assault,
Andrew Mitchell, the government’s former chief whip, has said.

Mr Mitchell, who quit last year over claims that he swore at police officers and called them “plebs”, said he did not believe that his “friend” Mr Evans had committed the attacks.

If Mr Evans were forced to resign as deputy speaker of the Commons it would open the floodgates to public officials being blackmailed by false stories, he warned.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Mitchell indicated that it was possible that he could return to the Government front bench in future but that it was “too early” to know how his own his case would unfold.

Mr Mitchell said he had known Mr Evans, the deputy speaker of the Commons, for many years.

“I simply do not believe these allegations that have been made against him,” Mr Mitchell, the Tory MP for Sutton Coldfield, said.

Related Articles

“I think he should definitely continue in that role (as deputy speaker).”

It would be possible to allocate some of Mr Evans’s duties to one of the other deputy speakers for a short time, he said.

“If necessary, there could be a degree of burden sharing.”

Mr Evans, who strenuously denies the allegations, has already been excused from his duties chairing the Queen’s Speech debate in the Commons this week.

However, if Mr Evans was forced out permanently, “every public official out there would be open to blackmail and false stories triggering their resignation,” Mr Mitchell said.

“We do still live in a country where you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty.”

Mr Mitchell said the pressure from the media attention in his own case had been “intense”.

“I was drummed out of office by allegations that were subsequently shown to be untrue.” Mr Mitchell said he could not say more because legal proceedings were ongoing in relation to the claims made against him.

Last September Mr Mitchell clashed with police while attempting to ride his bicycle through the gates of Downing Street.

It was claimed that he swore at officers and called them "plebs". Mr Mitchell resigned at the height of the row, although he has always denied using the word.

Scotland Yard launched Operation Alice after claims that officers may have lied about the dispute. Four people have been arrested and the inquiry has so far cost nearly £150,000.

Mr Mitchell insisted that he was not asked to resign but decided to quit because he felt he could no longer do the job of chief whip after a controversy lasting 28 days.

Asked whether he though he could return to the front bench or wanted to re-enter frontline politics, Mr Mitchell, the former International Development Secretary, said: “We will have to see how circumstances unfold. It is too early to answer that question at the moment.”